It seems like today is some retirement day for the sporting icons – I just covered news of the Swimming legend Ian Thorpe bidding farewell to the sport and now I came across this one. Biathlon king of Russia Pavel Rostovtsev has announced his retirement. The 35-year-old, three-time World Champion will now head the Krasnoyarsk Territory agency of sport and physical training. Money and sports are two different parameters yet we try and mingle them, there are a few who take-up sports for the sheer reason of money involvement, whereas others fall trap to it – this is a proven statement, over the year with the increasing incentives in sports with sporting icons used as publicity ideals for a benefit derived both ways, the true sagacity of sporting is losing its allure. Rostovtsev, the former Russian captain has been ambushed by the same imp, he was amidst a disagreement with the Russian federation over a sponsorship deal a controversy that had triggered before the start of the new World Cup season when the men’s team refused to participate in a sponsorship promotion, this is the reason cited for his hasty decision to bid adieu. Read: Eurosport
Norwegian coach Mika Kojonkoski has come out with his team for the weekend’s World Cup opener: Anders Bardal Lars Byst’l Anders Jacobsen Sigurd Pettersen Roar Lj’kels’y Bj’rn Einar Rom’ren Just because he could only send six competitors for the event 29-year-old two-time Olympian, Tommy Ingebrigtsen a prominent name in the Norwegian camp (part of Norway’s bronze winning squad in the Team Hill at the Turin Olympics), will miss out of the opener. Image: Planet Read: Eurosport
Skiing, flip-flops and tumbles are all synonyms – professionals enjoy the ice thoroughly, but if you aren’t one yet and wish to derive the pleasure of having your way on the ice you could find different places and ways to do so… but just check out this video before you get out there just to see what perils could confront your path.
The Former World Cup Champion Bode Miller provoked controversy last season when he had questioned why using certain performance enhancing substances were illegal, the American had been severely criticized for skiing while drunk – but he this season seems a transformed competitor and has made slow but confident start to the season. The US ski administration seem to have come up with new and a tougher code of conduct to counter the peril US ski team had faced – Bode who won the Overall title in 2005, had failed to finish with a medallion at the Turin Olympics and was charged for enjoying the nightlife than the ice. Defending himself the 29-year-old, American quoted, “It (last season) was a season that was a big test of my personality, there were a lot of people doing things that lacked a lot of integrity and lacked a lot of kindness and humanity . I was third in the overall, that’s not so disappointing. There were only two guys better than me in the whole world.” The best way to answer the critics would be performance, Bode hasn’t had a beginning that would be liked – he crashed out of the opening Slalom and had a poor run at Lake Louise in the downhill event. He will as all American fanatics would want have to return to his best if he really wishes to silence his critics.
Lindsey Kildow may have finished second behind Maria Riesch on the Olympic downhill course in Alberta on Friday, but she was the best yet again at Lake Louise, she finished in a time of 1:48:84 to win the downhill contest here for the second time in succession. American ski Association has had a lot to work on since Bodie Miller was severely criticized for skiing while drunk, his party lifestyle has forced the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) to reframe its alcohol policies – the modified alcohol policy prevents the skiers and the coaches from drinking in the same room. The amended code of conduct could have been a hindrance to Kildow’s feat celebration but the Skier was outright to better it in her own way – Kildow did celebrate with the coaches, however, they weren’t her own… but German! She said, “I had a glass of wine with (her ski company) and our team had a glass of celebratory champagne and I had a beer with the Germans. It was a crazy night for me, three glasses of alcohol. But with the German coaches, not my coaches. They (U.S.) can’t be in the same room.” The American’s teammates have been critical of the USSA norms, though, she herself believes that there have been members of the Ski team who have been irresponsible – How far is Kildow’s act of drinking with the opposition justified? The USSA has come out with the decree but its thorough implementation is equally significant. Or you’ll have American’s frequently boozing with the Germans! Read: Today
In a breathtaking contest Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, leaving the Bode Miller of the United States behind, reclaimed the overall World Cup lead by winning the men’s giant slalom Thursday that he finished in a combined time of 2 minutes 25.63 seconds. This event also proved great for Canadian Francois Bourque who, earlier lying at fifth position, moved to second place with a strong second trip to finish the event in 2:25.89, whereas, Kalle Palander of Finland finished third with 2:26.03 time. Svindal had to go through a sever criticism when he ended 11th in a super-giant slalom on Wednesday and lost the overall lead to Miller. On hard criticism Svindal asserted, I never had a crisis, but some people in Norway thought I had a crisis. So if they’re having a crisis when they’re sitting in their office with the heating and watching on television, then be my guest. It wasn’t a great day for the hosts, for Benjamin Raich, the defending World Cup champion, finished fifth and only managed to secure the 10th position for Austria. This is the 13th race without a victory, for Austrian men’s team, the worst ever performance since 1992 The men are off the track for Christmas and resume the event with downhill races in Bormio, Italy, on December 28th and 29th. On the contrary, in the women’s World Cup standings, the season is proving a great run for Marlies Schild of Austria who seized the overall lead by claiming her third straight slalom Thursday in 1 minute 46.15 seconds that helped her to gain first spot in the overall standings with 477 points, whereas, German Annemarie Gerg stood second with 1:46.36 finish and Therese Borssen of Sweden finished third taking 1:46.39 time period. After claiming the third straight slalom Schild said, I feel really happy to be in the lead today. My knee doesn’t hurt and my back doesn’t hurt. But I don’t feel invincible. It was really close today. In the women overall standings, it’s all Austrian affair as after Schild, Nicole Hosp is in second spot with 460 points and Renate G�tschl with 441is holding third position. Via: iht.com
Ana Jelusic may have been the favorite at Zagreb-Sljeme, but it was the Austrian sensation Marlies Schild who bagged the show. The Austrian claimed her fourth Slalom victory out of five in the woman’s slalom this season. The Austrian Marlies Schild was emphatic rite from the blocks keeping her good run of form intact finishing good 1.66 seconds ahead of Croatian Ana Jelusic who was second with a first Podium finish of her World Cup career. Anja Paerson had started second and was in the hunt for the podium finish right till the end before unfortunately dashing into the ice few gates from finish allowing Schild to finish the second leg at the apex. Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic skied in for the third position. This victory has helped Marlies Schild cement her lead at the top of the Women’s overall standings in both the overall and the World Cup standings. Read: Eurosport
Former World ski champion Bruno Kernen broke his nose, tore knee ligaments and had concussions, when the Swiss went crashing down the Silvano Beltrametti course after badly landing a jump in the season ending World cup downhill. Kernen lost control on a jump, in the lower half of the course (considered the fastest part on course) and went twisting into the safety barriers. The 34-year-old was air lifted to the hospital – though he is fortunate to survive the life threatening accident, but the knee complications could keep the veteran from competing as a professional again. However, the final decision whether to compete again or not will entire be his own, Kernen is likely to make his statement confirming the same today. Read: Eurosport
Adam Malysz dominated at the Plancia flying hill in Slovenia, to win his second consecutive large hill ski jumping title to reclaim the overall World Cup lead. Competing in the first event since 2003, the 29-year-old, Polish ski jumper recorded 208.5-meter jump in the first round to break into the lead at the event. The win at Planica, is Malysz’s first victory on the biggest hill on the World Cup circuit, and was his eighth victory of the season for the 37th career title. His nearest rival for the Overall Andres Jacobson could only finish sixth in the event – and now trail good 46 points behind Malysz. Switzerland’s Simon Ammann was emphatic at his jumps and finished behind the Pole for the second place while the home favorite Jernej Damjan of Slovenia finished for the third spot. Read
Li Nina the Chinese freestyle aerial skier and the 2006 Winter Olympic silver medalist ended with 194.57 points to clinch the women’s freestyle aerials at the Asian Winter Games. Amidst dropping mercury and heavy snowfall at Beida Lake, the Chinese competitors have thus far rocked the show with Nina earning the tenth gold for their cause. Nina was just spectacular with her performance leaving her younger compatriot Xu Mengota trailing behind at 184.88 for the silver. Read: Eurosport